The Buckingham Township Police Department is committed to keeping our community safe and informed. As part of our ongoing efforts to combat fraud, we want to alert you to a common scam that can drain your bank account: wire transfer scams. Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and wire transfer fraud is on the rise.

Here's how it works: Scammers will contact you, often posing as a government official, a credit card representative, or a business representative. You may receive emails or text messages posing as a legitimate business, bank or financial institution. The scammers clone their websites and logos so they look real. They will claim that you need to wire money to resolve a fake issue or pay a bogus fee. They may use convincing stories, threats, or promises of large sums of money to convince you to act quickly. Don't fall for it!

Remember, legitimate organizations will never ask you to wire money or use a payment app (Venmo, PayPal, Bitcoin etc) to resolve an issue or pay a fee. If you're unsure, hang up and contact the organization directly using a phone number you know is genuine. For example, don't call back a "credit card company" with a phone number the representative gives you. Call the phone number on the back of your card.

Stay vigilant and protect your hard-earned money. If you've been targeted by a wire transfer scam or have fallen victim, call us to make a police report and report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) immediately.

Stay tuned for more fraud alerts and tips from the Buckingham Township Police Department. We're committed to keeping you informed and safe from scams. Follow us for updates and remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

For more information on fraud prevention and reporting, visit the FTC website at www.ftc.gov.

Stay safe, Buckingham Township!